Benzinga | Jul 9, 2021 09:25AM EDT

Galectin Therapeutics Stock Surges After Robust Data From Belapectin/Keytruda Combo In Melanoma, Head & Neck Cancer

* Galectin Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:GALT) has announced top-line clinical data from the extension cohort of Phase 1b trial of Belapectin in combination with Merck & Co Inc's (NYSE:MRK) Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with metastatic melanoma and head & neck cancer.

* The extension study enrolled heavily-pretreated nine melanoma patients and five head & neck squamous cell carcinoma cancer patients.

* Melanoma patient results included one partial response, four stable diseases, and four progressive diseases, providing a disease control rate of 56% (five out of nine patients).

* In head and neck cancer patients, two stable diseases and three progressive diseases, providing a disease control rate of 40% (two out of five patients), were reported.

* The combination of Belapectin and pembrolizumab was well tolerated and appeared safe.

* No toxicities deemed related, probably related, or possibly related to Belapectin were reported.

* Belapectin (GR-MD-02) is a complex carbohydrate drug that targets galectin-3, a critical protein in the pathogenesis of NASH and fibrosis, and has a significant role in cancer.

* Price Action: GALT shares are up 44.6% at $3.99 during the premarket session on the last check Friday.